Murder of young man who came to Sheffield for 'a better life' unsolved nearly one year later

Armend Xhika was knifed when violence flared on the streets of Sheffield last May.

The 22-year-old was caught up in fighting involving a group of men, with one brawl reported on Earl Marshal Road, Fir Vale and another on Kirton Road, Pitsmoor, a short time later.

Armend was dropped off outside A&E at the Northern General Hospital in a car which then drove off while medics battled to revive him.

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Speaking after the murder, a friend said Armend was in the UK illegally, having moved to Sheffield, where his sister is also believed to live, for a better life for him and his family back in Albania.

He had been in the city for three years.

His friend said young Albanians desperate to escape the poverty of their home country have been known to pay up to £26,000 for illegal entry into the UK.

They either end up in debt to banks, friends and relatives in Albania or the criminal gangs which offer them a route into the UK, he said.

He warned that criminal gangs are exploiting young people like Armend in Sheffield, knowing they have no official paperwork for legitimate jobs.

“If people are in debt and desperate for money because they have no paperwork for official support, they can be exploited,” the friend said.

A number of arrests have been made over Armend’s murder, but no charges have been brought.

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South Yorkshire Police said: “Enquiries into the death of Armend Xhika, 22, are continuing – and detectives are issuing a fresh appeal for information regarding the incident.

“Seven arrests have been made during the investigation to date – and detectives are keen to ensure all lines of enquiry have been pro-actively pursued to build a complete picture of what happened to Armend on Thursday, May 13, 2021.

“A man aged in his 30s remains under investigation having been arrested on suspicion of murder in August last year.

“Mr Xhika’s family continue to be supported by specially trained officers as detectives work to piece together the events which led up to his death.

Call 101 and quote incident 857 of May 13, 2021.